UNIT 9:- Coordination Compounds

1. State the postulates of Werner’s theory of coordination compounds. 3 Marks

Postulates:

1. Central metal ion in a complex shows two types of valences - primary valence and
secondary valence.

2. The primary valence is ionisable and satisfied by negative ions.

3. The secondary valence is non ionisable. It is equal to the coordination number of the
central metal ion or atom. It is fixed for a metal. Secondary valences are satisfied by
negative ions or neural molecules (ligands).

4. The primary valence is non directional. The secondary valence is directional. Ions or
molecules attached to satisfy secondary valences have characteristic spatial
arrangements. Secondary valence decides geometry of the complex compound.

2. What are the limitations of Werner’s theory of coordination compounds?

3 Marks

This theory fails to explain why,

a) a few elements have the property to form coordination compounds

b) the bonds in coordination compounds have directional properties

c) coordination compounds have characteristic magnetic and optical properties.

3. Write one difference between double salts and complex salts with respect to
their ionisation. Give one example for each type of salt. 2 Marks

Double salt Complex salt

Double salt is stable only in solid state, but Complex salt is stable both in solid and
dissociate into simple ions completely in solution state and does not dissociate
solution state. completely in solution state.
E.g: KCl.MgCl2.6H2O E.g: K4[Fe(CN)6]

4. Define Coordination entity of coordination compounds. 2 Marks

A coordinate entity constitutes a central metal atom or ion bonded to a fixed number of
ions or molecules (ligands).

e.g: [Fe(CN)6]4-.
5. What is central metal ion in a coordination compound? Give an example.

2 Marks

The metal atom or ion in a coordination entity to which, a fixed number of ions or
molecules (ligands) are bound in a definite geometrical arrangement around it is called
central metal ion. It is a Lewis acid.

e.g: In K4[Fe(CN)6] , central metal ion is Fe2+.

6. What are ligands? Give an example. 2 Marks

The ions or molecules bonded to the central metal atom or ion in a coordination entity
are called ligands. Ligands are Lewis bases.

e.g: In [Ni(CN)4]2-, ligand is CN- ion.

7. Define the term coordination number of a central metal atom or ion in a

complex compound. 2 Marks

The coordination number of central metal atom or ion in a complex is the number of
ligand donor atoms to which the metal is directly bonded.

In K4[Fe(CN)6] , coordination number of Fe2+ is 6.

8. Define coordination sphere of coordination compounds. 2 Marks

The central metal atom or ion and the ligands of the complex compound are written
within square bracket. This is called coordination sphere of coordination compounds.

9. What are homoleptic complexes? Give an example. 2 Marks

Homoleptic complexes are the complexes in which central metal ion or atom is bound to
only one type of donor groups.

e.g: K4[Fe(CN)6]

10. What are heteroleptic complexes? Give an example. 2 Marks

Homoleptic complexes are the complexes in which central metal ion or atom is bound to
more than one type of donor groups.

e.g: [Co(NH3)5Cl]SO4
11. Classify the following ligands into unidentate, didentate and polydentate
ligands. NH3, EDTA, oxalate. En, 3 Marks

NH3 Unidentate

EDTA Polydentate

Oxalate Didentate

En:- di dantate
12. Give the IUPAC name for the following compounds.

a) K4[Fe(CN)6] potassium hexacyanidoferrate(II)

b) [Cu(NH3)4] SO4 tetramminecopper(II) sulphate

c) [Co(NH3)5Cl]SO4 pentamminechloridocobalt(III) sulphate

d) K3[Fe(C2O4)3] potassium trioxalatoferrate(III)

e) [CoCl2(en)2]+ dichloridobis(ethane-1,2-diamine)cobalt(III)

f) [Co(NH3)5(NO2)]Cl2 pentamminenitrito-N-cobalt(III) chloride

g) [Co(NH3)5(ONO)]Cl2 pentamminenitrito-O-cobalt(III) chloride

h) [Ni(CO)4] tetracarbonylnickel(0)

13. What are ambidentate ligands? Give one example. 2 Marks

Ligands which have two donor atoms, but can bond to central metal atom or ion through
only one donor atom are called ambidentate ligands.
- -
e.g: NO2 , CN- SCN etc.,

14. What is geometrical isomerism in complexes? Give an example. 2 Marks

It is a phenomenon in which two complex compounds have the same molecular formula
and same chemical bonds, but different geometrical arrangement of the ligands. The two
forms are called cis and trans forms.

e.g: [Pt(NH3)2Cl2]

Cl NH3 Cl NH3
Pt Pt

Cl NH3 NH3 Cl

Cis isomer Trans isomer

15. Explain optical isomerism in complexes with an example. 2 Marks

It is a phenomenon in which two complex compounds have the same molecular formula
and same chemical bonds but cannot be superposed on one another. They differ in the
rotation of plane of plane polarised light. These isomers are called enantiomers. The two
forms are called dextro (d) and laevo (l).

e.g (1) (2)

16. What is linkage isomerism? Give an example. 2 Marks

Linkage isomerism is type of isomerism in which two complex compounds differ in the
donor atoms for ligands (different ligating atoms). It is shown by complex compounds
containing ambidentate ligands.

e.g: [Co(NH3)5NO2]Cl2 and [Co(NH3)5(ONO)]Cl2

17. Indicate the type of isomerism in the following set of complex compounds.

a) [Co(NH3)5Cl]SO4 and [Co(NH3)5 SO4]Cl

b) [Co(NH3)5(SCN)]Cl2 and [Co(NH3)5(NCS)]Cl2 2 Marks

a) [Co(NH3)5Cl]SO4 and [Co(NH3)5 SO4]Cl Ionisation isomerism

b) [Co(NH3)5(SCN)]Cl2 and [Co(NH3)5(NCS)]Cl2 Linkage isomerism

18. Explain coordination isomerism in complexes. Give one example.

Coordination isomerism is type of isomerism due to interchange of ligands between

cationic and anionic entities of different metal ions present in a complex.

e.g: [Co(NH3)6] [Cr(CN)6] and[Cr(NH3)6] [Co(CN)6]

19. Explain ionization isomerism in complexes. Give an example.

Ionisation isomerism is type of isomerism in which two complex compounds produce

different ions in solution form.

e.g: [Co(NH3)5Cl]SO4 and [Co(NH3)5 SO4]Cl

20. What is solvate isomerism? Explain with an example.

Solvate isomerism is a type of isomerism in which complex compounds differ in the

number of water molecules acting as ligands and water of hydration.

e.g: [Cr(H2O)6]Cl3 and [Cr(H2O)5Cl]Cl2. H2O

21. Explain the formation of [CoF6]3- . Is this complex paramagnetic? 3 Marks

Co, Z=27 [Ar]3d7 4s2 4p0 4d0

Co3+ [Ar] 3d6 4s0 4p0 4d0

It undergoes sp3d2 hybridisation. When F - ligand attacks the central metal ion, Co3+

This complex uses outer d orbital (4d) for hybridisation. It is an outer orbital
complex. It has unpaired electrons. [CoF 6]3- is paramagnetic. This complex is called high
spin or spin free complex.
22. Give the geometry, hybridization and magnetic property of [Co(NH3)6]3+ based
on VBT. 3 Marks

Co, Z=27 [Ar]3d7 4s2 4p0

Co3+ [Ar] 3d6 4s0 4p0

When NH3 ligand attacks the central metal ion Co3+ , pairing of electrons in 3d orbital
occurs against Hund’s rule. Co3+ can undergo d2sp3 hybridization.

This complex uses inner d orbital (3d) for hybridisation. It is an inner orbital complex. It
has no unpaired electrons. [Co(NH3)6]3+ is diamagnetic. This complex is called low spin or
spin paired complex.It has octahedral geometry.

23. Using VBT, explain the type of hybridization, geometry and magnetic property
of [NiCl4]2-. 3 Marks

Ni, Z =28 [Ar] 3d8 4s2 4p0

Ni2+, [Ar] 3d8 4s0 4p0

It undergoes sp3 hybridisation.

This complex has unpaired electrons. It is paramagnetic. [NiCl4]2- has tetrahedral structure.

24. Explain the hybridization, geometry and magnetic property in the complex
compound [Ni(CN)4]2-. 3 Marks

Ni, Z =28 [Ar] 3d8 4s2 4p0

Ni2+, [Ar] 3d8 4s0 4p0

When CN- ligand attacks the central metal ion Ni2+, unpaired electrons in 3d orbital are
paired up against Hund’s rule. It undergoes dsp2 hybridisation.

This complex has no unpaired electrons. It is diamagnetic.

25. What are the limitations of Valence Bond Theory? 2 Marks

This theory,

a) has a number of assumptions

b) does not give quantitative interpretation of magnetic data

c) does not explain colour shown by complexes.

d) could not predict tetrahedral or square planar shape for the coordination number 4

e) could not distinguish between strong and weak ligands.

26. Why [CoF6]3- is called an outer orbital complex? 1 Mark

In this complex, Co3+ uses outer d orbital (4d) for hybridization. Therefore it is called an
outer orbital complex.

27. What are inner orbital complexes? Give an example. 2 Marks

Inner orbital complex is one where the central metal ion uses inner d orbital {(n-1)d
orbital} for hybridsation.

e.g: [Co(NH3)6]3+

28. Explain the salient features of crystal field theory. 2 Marks

This theory considers ligands as point charges in case of anionic ligands and dipoles in
case of neutral molecules. The bond formed between central metal ion and the ligands is
purely ionic.

29. What is crystal field splitting? Explain crystal field splitting in octahedral
entities using energy level diagram. 3 Marks

In an isolated gaseous central metal atom or ion, all the five d orbitals are having same
energy. i.e they are degenerated. In the presence of attacking ligands, it becomes
asymmetric and the d orbitals lose degeneracy, resulting in splitting of d orbitals. This is
called crystal field splitting.

In an octahedral complex, six ligands surround the central metal ion. dx2 – y2 and dz2
orbitals (called eg set) are directed along the direction of ligands and experience more
repulsion. They have more energy. dxy, dyz and dzx orbitals (called t2g set) are directed
between the axes of attacking ligands and experience lesser repulsion by the ligands.
They have lesser energy. The energy separation between two split sets is denoted as ∆ o .
The energy of eg orbitals increase by 3/5 ∆o and that of t2g set decrease by 2/5 ∆o .
30. What is spectrochemical series? Arrange the following ligands in the increasing
order of their field strength.

Br-, I-, H2O, CO, F- 2 Marks

Spectrochemical series is the arrangement of ligands in the order of increasing field

strength.

Correct order for the given set is, CO > CN-> NO2-> NH3> H2O> F-> Br- > I-

31. Draw a figure to show the splitting of d orbitals in a tetrahedral crystal

field. 2 Marks